Folding table



- No Model.) Y

. L. L.,KETOHU M.

FOLDING TABLE.

No. 418,324. Patented Oct. 22, 1889. 7

iii mm;

mlllillli, "M!!! J H r Iu1|lIllIllIllllllllllllllllllllllllllIllflllllllllllllllllllflliii UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

LOREN L. KETCHIJM, OF MADISON, \VISGONSIN.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 413,324, dated October 22, 1889.

Application filed March 19, 1888.

T0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOREN L. KETCHUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Dane and State of Wis= consin, have invented a new and useful Im: provement in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of tables supported by cross-legs and so constructed as to fold into compact form when not in use.

Heretofore "such tables have been of complicated construction and correspondingly inconvenient and difficult in operation.

The object of my invention is to furnish a table that is simple in construction, light to handle, adapted to temporary or permanent uses, convenient in its operation, and so constructed that it may be easily and compactly folded.

My invention consists in providing the corresponding leg of each pair with a joint so arranged and constructed as to allow each pair of legs to fold contiguously and flat against the bottom of the table.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is an inverted perspective of a device, partially open, embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a view of the bottom of the table when folded, and Fig. 3 an end view of the table partially open.

To the lower side of the rigid table-top A the legs B B B B are hinged at O O c c, the hinges being placed on the inside of the legs. The inner leg ofaeach pair is constructed of two parts. The upper parts I) b are hinged to the top A at c c, and pivoted to the inner sides of the upper ends of the lower portions of said legs at D D, and extend to such a distance beyond said pivots that their concave ends E E impinge upon the round F when the table is open. Said pieces I) b are connected by the rod G and provided with braces H H to sustain the table against longitudinal movement. Each pair of legs is pivotally attached to the round Fat J J. A

The operation of the device is as follows: When the top A is turned into a horizontal position, the legs B B B B, automatically turning upon the pivotal points J J and D D, swing into position. The projecting or lower Serial No. 267,761. (No model.)

ends of the pieces I) b impinge upon the round F, when, the pivotal joints D D having passed the direct line between the hinges c c and the pivotal points J J, the device is locked in position for use. To fold the table, move the rod G away from the round F, when, turning upon the pivotal points J J and D D, the legs fold against the top A and project in one direction.

The above construction may be varied by omitting the round F, using pivots only at J J. When so varied, the lower ends of the pieces 1) b may extend to any distance beyond the pivots D D and engage with the lower portions B B of the jointed legs by using suitable stops on either the pieces I) b orthe lower portions B B. Also, the pieces b b of the jointed legs may be placed on either side of the lower portions B B, and the jointed leg may be the inner one or the outer one of each or either pair in any of the aboveforms of construction. Also, the braces H H may connect with the roundF instead of the rod G.

Having fully described the construction and operation of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. I11 a folding table, the combination, with a table-top, of two pairs of cross legs hinged thereto, the inner leg of each pair consisting of the parts B b, the part I) being hinged to the table-top and pivotally connected to the part B, thereby .forming a joint at D, the round F, rod G, braces H H, and means for retaining the jointed legs in position, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a folding table, the combination, with the rigidtop A, legs B B, hinged thereto, and round F, of jointed legs crossing said 1e s B B and consisting of the parts B B b b, the parts b I) being hinged to the top A and pivoted to the upper ends of the parts B B, forming joints at D D, whereby all of the legs may be folded against the table-top, the parts I; b projecting beyond the pivotal joints D D to such a distance as to engage with the said round F when the table is open, and having their projecting ends connected by the rod G and braces H H, substantially as described, and for the purposes set fort 3. In a folding table, the combination,with the rigid top A, legs B B, hinged thereto, and round F,0f j ointed legs consisting of the parts connected by the rod G and braces H H, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

B B b b, the parts I) Z) being hinged to the LOREN L. KETCHUBI.

\Vitnesses:

MILO VVOODBURY,

J. M. CLIFFORD.

top A and projecting beyondthc pivotal joints D D to such a distance as to engage With said round F, and having their projecting ends 

